13 Black Actors And Actresses Who've Won Oscars

Their outstanding performances earned these actors a place in movie history.

February is one busy month.

Sure it’s the shortest, but it jam packs 28, sometimes 29, days with everything from romance on the 14th to award shows throughout. It also umbrellas one of the nation's most celebrated observances of the year—Black History Month.

The end of the month is upon us but it isn’t bowing out until after the 85th Academy Awards this Sunday. From Mammy to Minnie, some of Hollywood’s most famous African American actors took home Oscar gold for their roles in critically acclaimed films. History was in the making last year when The Help's Octavia Spencer became the fifth Black actress to ever win Best Supporting Actress. And this year, 9-year-old Quvenzhané Wallis is recorded as the youngest Best Actress nominee in the show’s history.

On a night that honors the best of the best, we shine light on the elite Black actors and actresses whose previous performances carved them a place in showbiz history.